Sexton has not won an international medal since winning the world title

The 23-year-old, the oldest swimmer in the field, won in a time of one minute 02.25 seconds to hold off 15-year-olds Lizzie Simmonds and Francesca Halsall.

The Portsmouth Northsea swimmer said: "I'm 10 years older than these girls but when it comes to a tight race like that I've got experience on my side."

The meeting at Ponds Forge is doubling up as the European trials.

Simmonds, who won the 200m title earlier in the week, and Halsall are each looking to compete at both the European Junior Championships as well as their senior equivalent.